Coating of Graphene

Abstract

A highly crystalline graphene and the coating of said graphene with a layer. Said graphene may have further structures, such as nanopores, nanogaps, and nanoribbons. The coated graphene can be used for biomolecular analysis and modification, such as DNA-sequencing, as a sensor, etc.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of International Application PCT / NL2014 / 050291, entitled “Coating of Graphene”, to Technische Universiteit Delft, filed on 12 Mar. 2014, which claims priority to Netherlands Patent Application with Serial No. 2010776, filed 8 May 2013, and the specifications and claims thereof are incorporated herein by reference.STATEMENT REGARING FEDERALLY SPONOSRED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not Applicable.INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COM-PACT DISC[0003]Not Applicable.COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL[0004]Not Applicable.FIELD OF THE INVENTION (TECHNICAL FIELD)[0005]The present invention is in the field of graphene and coating said graphene with a layer. Said graphene may have further structures, such as nanopores, nanogaps, and nanoribbons. The coated graphene can be used for biomolecular analysis and modification, such as DNA-sequencing, as a sensor, etc. The invention therefor also relates to use of c...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a new method for preventing strong interactions between DNA and graphene, which can lead to the clogging of pores in graphene nanopores. The inventors have developed a method using a self-assembled monolayer of molecules that render the surface of graphene hydrophilic, stopping DNA from clogging the pores. This allows for the detection and analysis of single-stranded DNA, while maintaining the durability and reproducibility of the nanopores. The inventors used a combination of pyrene ethylene glycol and other molecules to create the monolayer. The method can also improve the solubility of graphene in solvents.

Problems solved by technology

Also the covalent structure of graphene needs to be intact; such limits the use of (mono)layers significantly.

If the nanostructures are not provided in a controllable, reproducible and reliable manner, a device will have varying and not very predictable characteristics, which is undesired in many instances.

Present inventors identified that DNA translocation of single-stranded and double-stranded DNA is in fact much more difficult when graphene nanopores are clean and crystalline, due to severe clogging and sticking of DNA.

However these conditions yield the deterioration of the graphene lattice with increasing beam exposure time (as evidenced by the loss of the characteristic hexagonal diffraction pattern of graphene; FIG. 1A, situations 1-3).

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